CGC Comics – Comic Book Glossary

by admin on Sunday, June 15th, 2014 | No Comments

CGC Comics – CGC stands for Certified Guaranty Company. CGC is a professional grading company specializing in grading and encapsulating comic books and magazines.

CGC was founded in 2000 and has graded over 2 million comic books. Their service includes restoration check, grade assignment, and final encapsulation.

CGC uses the following 10 point grading scale:

10.0 Gem Mint
9.9 Mint
9.8 Near Mint/Mint
9.6 Near Mint +
9.4 Near Mint
9.2 Near Mint –
9.0 Very Fine/Near Mint
8.5 Very Fine +
8.0 Very Fine
7.5 Very Fine –
7.0 Fine/Very Fine
6.5 Fine +
6.0 Fine
5.5 Fine –
5.0 Very Good/Fine
4.5 Very Good +
4.0 Very Good
3.5 Very Good –
3.0 Good/Very Good
2.5 Good +
2.0 Good
1.8 Good –
1.5 Fair/Good
1.0 Fair
.5 Poor

Labels are color coded as follows:

UNIVERSAL (BLUE)
This label is applied to comic books that are simply the grade as marked, with no qualifiers or special considerations.

SIGNATURE SERIES (YELLOW)
This label is applied to comic books that have been signed by someone of significance to the comic, under the direct observation of a CGC representative, and are thus certified as an authentic signature by CGC.

QUALIFIED (GREEN)
A Qualified label is used by CGC for certified books that have a significant defect that needs specific description, or to note an unauthenticated signature (one which was not witnessed by CGC). For example, it would be a disservice to the seller and buyer to call a 9.4 book with the cover detached from a staple a 6.0 so CGC will give this book a Qualified grade of 9.4 and a Label Text notation of “COVER DETACHED FROM BOTTOM STAPLE.” Or, if the book is signed on the cover it may be noted as “NAME WRITTEN ON COVER IN MARKER.”

RESTORED (PURPLE)
This label is applied to any comic book that has evidence of repair so that it will appear as it did when it was in its original condition. Restoration can come in a variety of degrees, from slight professional restoration (SP) to extensive amateur restoration (EA).

SIGNATURE SERIES RESTORED (YELLOW / PURPLE)
Applied to a restored comic book that has been signed by someone of significance to the comic, under the direct observation of a CGC representative, and are certified as an authentic signature by CGC. Degree of restoration is also noted on the label.

MODERN (RED)
An outdated label used originally to distinguish modern comics (these books can be sent in for our New Holder service and receive a blue universal label at the same grade).